Monorail to get three more rakes

Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is expected to run three additional monorail rakes within three months. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will use spare parts of scrapped rakes and also buy 10 additional rakes for which the tendering procedure is underway.

Currently, four trains run on the second phase of the Mumbai Monorail i.e. from Wadala to Sant Gadge Maharaj (Mahalaxmi) station. The waiting time for passengers between two trains is approximately 20 minutes.

Due to the time gap, passengers avoid opting to travel by monorail.

According to an MMRDA official, the new rakes will not only improve the frequency but also help increase the number of passengers. “Spare parts required for monorail are made to order. There are very few companies that manufacture spare parts and it takes a considerable amount of time to reach the spot. Thus, to make three more trains available for service, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority will use the spare parts of scrapped monorail rakes,” said the official.

According to an Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority officer, a tender for the new rakes will be floated after the Lok Sabha elections results are out.

“It will take two and a half years to receive the new rakes after the tender is open,” said the officer. Nearly 25,000 passengers travel on phase 2 on a daily basis.